TDAC is the online arrival form that all foreign visitors must complete within 3 days before arriving in Thailand. Below is a step-by-step guide with all the essentials, common questions, and tips to help you breeze through Thai immigration.
🤔 What is TDAC, and Who Needs It?
- TDAC = Digital Arrival Card: An online form (no paper) capturing your travel and health info for Thai immigration. You’ll get a QR code confirmation after submitting.
- Mandatory for All Foreigners: Since May 1, 2025, every non-Thai national must complete a TDAC before each entry into Thailand. This includes tourists, business travelers, visa-exempt visitors, those on Visa-On-Arrival, and even long-term visa holders – everyone who isn’t a Thai citizen (yes, even babies and kids need their own TDAC! Parents can fill it out for them.)
- Every Entry & Every Traveler: The TDAC is one-time use for a single entry – if you leave and come back, you have to do a new one each time. Families or groups can submit together (up to 10 people in one group submission for convenience), but each person still gets their own QR code.
- Not a Visa, Just an Entry Form: The TDAC is not a visa or work permit – it doesn’t grant you the right to enter Thailand, it’s just an arrival info form. You still must meet visa requirements or visa-exemption rules separately. (So if you need a tourist visa or qualify for visa-free entry, that doesn’t change – TDAC is in addition to whatever visa/entry stamp you get.)
- Exceptions: The only people who don’t need TDAC are those who aren’t actually entering Thailand. For example, if you’re just transiting through a Thai airport and not passing immigration (staying airside for a connecting flight), you do not need to submit a TDAC. Also, airline crew members are exempt. But if you step out of the airport or cross the border by land/sea, you must have TDAC.
📅 When and How to Complete TDAC
- Timing: You can only submit the TDAC in the 72 hours before your arrival in Thailand. In other words, within 3 days of your expected arrival date (including the arrival day itself). You cannot complete it earlier than that – the system won’t accept dates more than 72 hours out. (If you try too early, you’ll get an error; just wait until you’re inside the 3-day window.)
- Don’t Wait Last-Minute: While you can technically fill it out on the day of your flight or even upon landing (there’s no hard “minimum” time), it’s strongly recommended to do it before you travel. If you wait until arrival, you’ll face delays – you’d have to scramble to fill it on your phone or at an airport kiosk while others are queueing. To avoid stress, do it a day or two before your trip so you have the QR code ready.
- Peak Travel Tip: During busy seasons (holidays, etc.), servers might be slow or busy. Since you only have that 3-day window, try to complete the TDAC as early in the window as possible (e.g. exactly 72-48 hours ahead) to account for any technical hiccups. It only takes a few minutes when you have your info ready.
- Where to Fill It: Online, on the official website. Go to tdac.immigration.go.th and click “Arrival Card” to start. Important: Use the official site (".go.th") – it’s free. Beware of lookalike or third-party sites that might charge a fee (more on scams later). There’s no official mobile app yet (as of late 2025), so the website is the main channel. The site is mobile-friendly, so you can do it from your phone, tablet, or computer. Instructions are available in English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Russian.
- No Paper Option: The old paper TM6 cards are gone. Initially, immigration provided some paper forms during the transition, but that was temporary. Now you are expected to use the digital form exclusively. Airlines generally no longer hand out arrival cards on flights to Thailand – don’t be surprised when you don’t get one on the plane. Plan to do the TDAC online before landing.
- Forgot or Can’t Submit? Don’t panic. Thai airports have kiosks and free Wi-Fi to help travelers who didn’t do the TDAC in advance. At major airports (like Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai), there are TDAC Kiosks where you can fill the form on arrival. Immigration staff can assist if needed. However, this is a backup option – expect to spend extra time. It’s much better to arrive with the QR code in hand than to fiddle with forms at the airport.
📑 What Info Do You Need for TDAC?
Before you start, get your documents and details ready. Filling out TDAC is straightforward if you have the info on hand. Here’s what you’ll need to provide:
